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Henderson High School Hosts Girls Public Speaking Contest
Ashley Moak (left), Daphne Rinkus, Maggie Driscoll, Bailey Henry, Shreya Verma, Nikita Jakkam, Lillian Drake, Abheya Nair, and Emma Kilroy.
Not pictured – Kateri Lalicker
A tradition that dates back over 75 years carries on in the West Chester Area School District. The annual Janet Walton Girls Public Speaking Contest was held on December 7, 2017, at Henderson High School.
Ten students representing all four grades participated in this year’s contest.
Each young women delivered a short, published piece that had never been performed in public. Contest coordinator and Henderson Latin teacher, Janet Boosz approved each student’s selection. The students had roughly six weeks to rehearse with the help of a faculty coach.
The students performed before a live audience consisting of students, teachers, parents, and community members. Participants are judged on their audience awareness, projection, inflection, diction, pacing, and movement.
This year's winner was senior Maggie Driscoll who performed an excerpt from “Be An Artist, Right Now” by Young-ha Kim. Second place went to junior Bailey Henry, who chose an excerpt from “Why Not Me” by Mindy Kaling. Senior Daphne Rinkus took third place with an excerpt from “Bad Feminist” by Roxanne Gray.
David Ehrhart, former supervisor of Fine Arts & World Language for the district, served as a judge along with, retired English teacher Linda Banks, and Henderson High School Assistant Principal Elisha Ozer.
The D. Webster Meredith Boys Speaking Contest will be held in the spring.